DANCEMN UPDATES

In these uncertain times, we hope you are all safe and well. This pandemic has hit artists and organizations particularly hard and DanceMN has been there to help. From March 11 to April 11, our newsletter has posted:

Now, more than ever, our community needs a platform to announce their new endeavors and DanceMN will continue to be their voice.

The dance community has responded to the crisis in so many creative ways and DanceMN was there to give accurate and up to date information. We have been a resource to share postings on closures, newly created classes, and other opportunities.

We now ask for your help in keeping DanceMN alive. Your donations will help us to move forward and keep us connected. We are working hard to update our website in order to provide easier access to dance events and information. We think you’ll love our new look.

We are a volunteer-run organization with one paid Editor on staff. Your donation, in any amount, makes a huge difference. Please visit our GiveMN page, https://www.givemn.org/story/Dancemn, to donate.

Though the spring fundraising campaign is coming to a close, donations are accepted and appreciated year-round!

PERFORMANCES and EVENTS

KDT is announcing a unifying, community-building online dance experience: a virtual benefit concert series in support of its vital programming. Dress up, enjoy the beauty of dance, and even move along in your living room! The following programs will stream on Vimeo through May 31:

WORKSHOPS, INTENSIVES, MASTER CLASSES and OPEN HOUSES

This class is for all levels and all walks of life. During this time of uncertainty, the one thing you can count on is your body and spirit bringing you through. Utilize meditations, movement, and affirmation to unwind, decompress, manifest, and visualize the world you want to walk FORWARD into. All ages are welcome. Low-intensity movement, mostly stretching and extensions.

May 22-June 12
Fridays, 2:00-3:30pm

Cost: $40.00

Pre-registration is required. A class link will be email prior to the first class.

This four-week virtual session is designed for children ages two through four and their parent/caregiver who are interested in a shared movement experience that engages the senses of curiosity and play.

Both child and caregiver will participate in developmentally-appropriate movement exercises that incorporate elements such as effort, shape, and tempo. Music will play an essential role in the class as students will be asked to respond to sounds as well as make sounds themselves. Participants will be encouraged to join at their own comfort level with the understanding that observation is often the best form of learning with younger children. This class will give children and caregivers the opportunity to learn more about themselves and one another through the art form of dance.

Saturdays, 9:00-9:45am

Session 2B: May 16-June 6. Please join for the next three weeks!

Cost: $40 per session. Contact us for prorated tuition.
Participants will be emailed the class link once registered.

During these four-week virtual workshops Lori Mercil will focus on helping students feel a sense of both release and groundedness, using breath and imagery, while also finding inner strength, alignment, and connection to ourselves and the world from our own living rooms and kitchens. A gentle, easy-to-follow warm-up will be followed by simple movement patterns that play with rhythm, spatial awareness, and movement qualities, doing our best to move “big” in a small space.

Mondays, 12:00-1:30pm

Session 2B: May 18-June 15. No class on May 25. Pleases join for the last three weeks!

Cost: $40.00 per session. Pre-registration required. Contact us for a prorated tuition.
Participants will be emailed the class link.

Experience the joy of dance while learning the elements of photography. Explore how images can inspire choreography and creativity!

Each day will consist of a group photo walk to help participants focus on their photography goals and let them practice the new skills they’ve learned. During these photo walks, they will develop and hone their visual acuity, looking for the light, shadows, shapes, and more. The participants will then apply the elements of photography to movement sessions in the studio. Students will participate in movement exercises of creation and learning dance technique. Digital device with photography capabilities needed, but not required.

Summer classes and camps begin Monday, June 15, and will be offered through distance learning until federal guidelines permit it is safe to resume in-person programming.

The Young Dance Summer 2020 schedule and registration is available! Whether you are starting your dance journey, exploring Young Dance for the first time, or using the summer to expand your dance skills and practice—we have something for you!

Dance Together: ages one to three with caretaker.
Creative Movement One: ages three to five.
Creative Movement Two: ages five to seven.
Dance a Story—Creative Movement and Storytelling Camp: ages three to six.
Create! Dance and Photography Camp: ages eight to twelve.
Dance Pass to Explore!: a variety of offerings for ages seven to eighteen.
World and Urban Dance Camp: ages ten to eighteen.
All Abilities Dancing: ages seven to ten.
All Abilities Dance and Stories: ages seven to ten.

Summer classes and camps begin Monday, June 15, and will be offered through distance learning until federal guidelines permit it is safe to resume in-person programming.

We are busy planning and restructuring our incredible summer of dance! As we carefully map out the resumption of in-person classes for the summer, we are closely monitoring up-to-date health information, and proactively implementing safety measures, including online components, limiting class size, staggering class times, continuing rigorous social distancing/sanitizing steps already in place, and more.

Unique in Minnesota, this week-long intensive is for motivated, aspiring male dancers ages ten through adult.

Designed by former professional ballet dancer Rick Vogt, this program focuses on strength, power, technique, and performance. These classes provide a rare opportunity for men and boys to gain invaluable skills and insights beyond those presented in mixed classes. Students receive individualized attention and coaching from the state’s foremost male ballet teachers. Classes include ballet technique, targeted strength training, and classical variations.
Invitation or pre-approval required.

We have adapted our summer intensive programs to have all new online class options. In person classes will adhere to social distancing by having smaller class sizes, classes staggered throughout the day, and other safety measures. For dancers who are unable to take in-person classes, we are also offering Ballet Virtuale for all of our summer intensives.

Young dancers have two opportunities to dance with Ballet Royale this summer!

CREATIVE STORY BALLET DAY CAMPS
June 20, July 18, and August 15
10:00am-12:00pm
Each workshop will be Disney-themed and will include a short performance at the end of the day. Give your young dancer the joy of dance and performance!

WEEKLY EVENING CLASSES
Offered for all ages. Creative Dance on Wednesdays.
July 6-August 13, 2020
Our program is professionally developed and comprehensive, drawing on decades of dance and music teaching experience, which offers an incomparable experience for children from walking age through six years old. These innovative classes encourage musicality, imagination and self expression through the art of dance and music.

Many of our summer classes for young dancers will take place online. Any in-person classes will be structured to maximize safety and minimize health risks.

AUDITIONS, JOBS and OPEN CALLS

TCB is an innovative professional ballet company that is reigniting passion for ballet through original high-quality performances.

The audition is open to non-Ballet Royale dancers interested in:
Company: Soloist and Principal level, competitive salaried position, 34-week season.
Apprentice: Unpaid apprentice positions for dancers eighteen and older seeking performance opportunities, training, and artistic development.
Trainees: High school-age trainees. For those who wish to receive the finest training available and perform with a professional company.

Ballet Royale is committed to the health and well-being of our dancers, families, staff and community. In light of current safety guidelines, we are not holding live auditions this spring, but you can still dance with Ballet Royale this summer by submitting a video audition!

We are accepting video auditions for our July Full-Day Summer Intensive, July 6-24, and our August Grand Prix Solos and Variations Intensive, August 10-21.

GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS and SCHOLARSHIPS

Momentum: New Dance Works is an independent program supported by an organizational grant from The Jerome Foundation. Festival performances will be co-presented by The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts and Walker Art Center. The program’s festival runs July 8-10 and July 15-17, 2021 in the McGuire Theater at Walker Art Center.

SERVICES and SPECIAL OFFERS FOR DANCERS

DRE is a Dance Career Recovery/Transition option that can be applied immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic, when social distancing restrictions have been lifted and you deem your locality/community safe. It will assist you through the uncertainties of negotiating the “new normal” of a post-COVID-19 society and its income uncertainties, while returning you immediately to maximum movement productivity with minimal cost to you individually.

There are two stages to DRE.
Stage 1: You plan your DRE environment now during the pandemic.
Stage 2: You implement it immediately upon the lifting of social restrictions.

DRE is free to use by any dancer, anywhere. It draws its foundations from The Open Source Dance Methodology (OSD) developed by Manjunan Gnanaratnam in the mid 2000’s to address the critical needs of a specific dance demographic.

ONGOING CLASSES

MotionArt’s mission is to share the art of dance and the joy of movement with people of all ages and abilities. We strive to enrich lives by fostering creativity, body awareness, and self-expression in a fun, non-competitive, welcoming environment.

VIRTUAL DANCE CLASSES

MotionArt is offering opportunities to dance during these uncertain times through our virtual classes on Zoom. Adult classes will continue, and we added a new beginning class for adults of any age who want to explore modern dance for the first time. It’s never too late to start!

Paying the regular rate helps keep our organization afloat; however, no one will be turned away for inability to pay. There is also an option to pay what you can.

MotionArt focuses on nurturing children’s individual creativity while facilitating their understanding of the dance elements of space, time, and energy. Children ages three to five explore these elements through playful, structured activities allowing them to expand their movement vocabulary, develop body awareness, and gain self-confidence. Ages five through seven explore the dance elements while being introduced to new movement skills and the creation of their own dances. Ages seven through twelve expand their creative and kinesthetic awareness while learning basic movement skills of modern dance. No previous experience necessary.

VIRTUAL CREATIVE DANCE CLASSES ON ZOOM
Please go to http://www.motionartmn.org to sign-up for classes. There are various options for payment/donations, and no one will be turned away for inability to pay.

The GYROKINESIS® Method is a rhythmic, flowing system of exercise performed seated, standing, or on all fours. Participants connect to their breath while developing functional strength and creating more space in the body. Do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.

Starting June 1, 2020: The Cassandra School offers fifteen online classes per week!

Join our online learning community of all ages, sizes, and levels of experience to participate in the creative expression and health and fitness benefits of Middle Eastern dance.

The beauty of this dance form is that it makes you feel wonderful in your own body, no matter its size or shape!

Go to http://www.cassandraschool.com to choose your classes and learn from home! Each class is held through Zoom. Class times in US Central Time zone. Classes are one hour and $15 each.

Discount: Purchase four or more classes and receive a $2 discount per class.

You may register online at http://www.cassandraschool.com using PayPal or credit card.
Be sure to choose and register for your class ahead of time, as class registrations close at 8:00pm CT the night before class.
The Cassandra School and Jawaahir Dance Company are not responsible for injuries sustained during classes.

Kathak dance is a dynamic art form from North India founded on four pillars of movement: rhythmic footwork, pirouettes, facial expressions, and gestural storytelling. Katha Dance Theatre is one of only twelve professional Kathak companies in the U.S., and our classes are taught by some of the world's finest Kathak dancers!

This summer, we will be offering our classes online via Zoom in order to ensure the health and safety of our students. In addition to class levels ranging from beginner to advanced, we will be offering introductory classes for new students on Tuesday evenings:

Kathak Introduction for Children
Ages six through twelve.
Tuesdays, 6:30–7:30pm
Start Date: June 2, 2020

The Cowles Center is excited to share our most recent addition to the Cowles Classroom - Cowles Brain Breaks!

All Brain Break videos are shorter than ten minutes (and many are under five minutes) and are the perfect opportunity to get a little movement in your (or your child's) day.
These videos are appropriate for dancers of all ages, but lessons were designed with grade school-aged dancers in mind. Enjoy!

That's right, Friday Morning Jazz is going strong! We've had a lovely group every week since moving online more than a month ago, and we're excited to continue uniting folks in jazz! Join us this week for a class from Erinn Liebhard, which, true to her approach to jazz, will be heavy in groove and work with interaction and improvisation.

Come lose yourself in the music and connect with like-minds:
Friday, May 22
10:00-11:00am Central Time

We'll be back at it with Erinn again Friday, May 29 for the final week of Zenon's Spring Session.
There's a week break June 1-7 before Zenon's Summer session starts, meaning we'll be back June 12!

Support DanceMN

If you would like to donate by check, please make the check out to Springboard for the Arts with DanceMN in the memo line and mail to Springboard for the Arts, 262 University Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55103

DanceMN is an artist-driven resource that increases visibility and vitality for Minnesota dance.

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